ROUGH sleepers in Fareham are to be moved into self-catering accommodation due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In accordance with Government guidelines, Fareham Borough Council has provided fully equipped self-catering accommodation to all known rough sleepers to keep them safe and socially distanced.

It has been made possible due to council officers partnering up with Two Saints, Vivid Housing and Acts of Kindness.

The borough council has reported that some rough sleepers have not taken up the offer of accommodation made to them, but said that efforts are continuing to encourage them to move off the streets and into safety.

Executive Leader of the Council, Councillor Sean Woodward, said: “From the start of this lockdown period we have worked closely with our partners to ensure we can provide rough sleepers with the safe haven that they need.

“I would add that any rough sleepers who are not known to the Council, or the Outreach team, can still be accommodated if they let us know where they are.

"If you see a rough sleeper please email housing@fareham.gov.uk or call 01329 824343 with a description of the person, where they were and the time of day.”

The borough council was recently successful in a bid to tackle the issue of rough sleeping, being awarded £141,450 to fund two further posts for the Outreach Service in Fareham provided by Two Saints.

That work has made a significant difference to the level of support provided to rough sleepers and been key in helping some of them make a move into more permanent homes.

Fareham Borough Council works with a number of agencies to help those sleeping rough in the Borough under the umbrella of Fareham Street Aid.

It comes after Southampton City Council pledged that hand sanitisers and tissues will be given to people sleeping rough while city bosses have confirmed that current support services will continue to operate over the coming months.

Plans to support the most vulnerable people across the county are being drawn up.

But it has been confirmed that services to support homeless people in Southampton will go ahead.